Pakistan faltered for the second day in a row against the West Indies’ pace attack, succumbing to a 90-run defeat in the first Test of a two-match series on the fourth day in Trinidad on Tuesday.
Challenged with a difficult target of 211 on a deteriorating pitch, the visitors never posed a serious threat and were bowled out for 120 in 40.2 overs shortly after tea.
It could have been even worse. At one point, they found themselves at 71 for nine, appearing destined for their lowest Test innings total against the West Indies. Bowling standout Mohammad Abbas partnered with captain Babar Azam to add 49 runs for the last wicket before Jayden Seales concluded the match by trapping Abbas leg-before for 23, achieving figures of five for 20.
Babar finished not out on 58.
As they prepare for the second and final Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, starting Sunday, Pakistan is reeling from four consecutive losses and an alarming streak of 13 defeats in their last 17 Tests.
This marks their eighth straight Test loss away from home. Their collapse mirrored the events of the third day, where they lost seven wickets for just 38 runs, plummeting from 244 for three to 282 all out, resulting in a 29-run first innings deficit.
‘Being disciplined’
Pakistan showed some resilience with the ball late on day three, but the West Indies regrouped to post a second innings total of 181, adding 55 runs on the fourth morning, highlighted by an aggressive 38 off 27 balls (including four sixes and one four) from Shamar Joseph.
Even after Abbas wrapped up the innings with impressive figures of five for 22, the body language of the Pakistan players in the field increasingly indicated that the target was far beyond their reach, particularly with former captain Shan Masood hindered by a fractured finger sustained during his first innings century.
He courageously returned to bat with the innings in disarray at 58 for six, only to fall victim to Seales, caught at backward point by Joseph.
West Indies captain Roston Chase enjoyed his second Test win in three matches after going more than a year without success after his appointment.
“I love how this team is going,” he said. “We’re not depending on one or two guys solely. Everyone is chipping in at crucial times.”